If you’ve been feeling guilty because you can’t get away from coffee every morning , it seems like now is the time for you to feel a little proud. Because it turns out, the habit of drinking coffee—which has been labeled as making your heart beat faster or making it difficult to sleep—can actually be the key to healthier aging. Yup, not only does it keep you awake when deadlines are piling up, but it can also help you stay fit into old age. How is that possible?
Recently, a study from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health has caused a stir. In the research, presented at the American Society of Nutrition’s annual meeting, researchers analyzed data from nearly 50,000 women over 30 years, starting in 1984.
And the results? Women who regularly drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day are more likely to become what they call “ healthy agers .”
Well, healthy agers are not just old people who can walk to the market without a cane. They are people over 70 years old who are free from 11 chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer; have positive mental health, are still physically active, and their memory is still sharp like a young person. Sounds like goals , right?
Even more interestingly, each additional cup of coffee per day is associated with a 2% to 5% increase in healthy aging. But don’t worry, you don’t have to drink buckets of coffee to get the benefits.
The study suggests that the maximum effect is seen with up to five small cups per day. More than that? You may want to be wary of side effects like heart palpitations and sleep disturbances.
What makes it even more special is that this effect only applies to caffeinated coffee. So if you’re team decaf, unfortunately you don’t get this ” anti-aging ” bonus.
Even consuming other caffeinated drinks such as cola or caffeinated soda actually reduces the chances of healthy aging. So even though the caffeine content is equally awake, the effects on the body can be very different depending on the source.According to Dr. Sara Mahdavi, the study’s lead researcher, the protective effects of coffee will be maximized when combined with other healthy lifestyles, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet.
So, coffee is not a shortcut to healthy living. It is just one of many “comrades in arms” to keep the body fit until old age.
But, of course, it’s also important to realize that everyone’s body can react differently. Some people shake after drinking a little coffee, while others can drink coffee at night and still sleep soundly. So, don’t just copy-paste other people’s habits without understanding your own body’s limits.
We also must not forget that this study was based on women, especially in America, who have lifestyles and social contexts that may be different from ours here. This means that the results may not be 100% the same if applied to everyone in other parts of the world. But at least this is a positive signal that coffee can be more than just a morning pick-me-up.
Now imagine, if drinking coffee can help you stay fit in old age, why not make it part of your daily routine? But remember, healthy coffee is one without excess sugar, without fake creamer, and of course don’t brew it with fried foods every day. Because well… what’s the point of healthy coffee if the companion you drink is the cause of cholesterol?
One thing we can learn from this study is that often, simple things we do every day, like drinking coffee, can have a big impact in the long term, as long as they are done the right way.
So, are you a true coffee team or just following the trend? And if it turns out that a small habit like drinking coffee can have a big effect on the future, what other healthy habits do you think you need to start now?
Source : https://yoursay.suara.com/health/2025/06/22/153504/kopi-bikin-awet-muda-studi-harvard-buktikan-manfaat-tak-terduga
Coffee illustration (Pexels/Vinícius Vieira)
